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Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Learning to Crochet-My First Dishcloth!

I've always admired folks that can crochet, I think it's art! For my first project I made this simple double crochet dishcloth and it was fun. Used a J hook, 100% cotton yarn and the video here.

I chose to chain 30 and made 19 rows.(Update: After living with this for a while it's kinda big, the video suggests chaining 25, I'd try that.)

This pic is looking "down field", its actually 10.5 x 10.5-amazing!

Questions:

Do you re-roll your skein of yarn into a ball or do you find the loose end and pull it out from the center? If you find it in the center, for sanity's sake... how???

Anyone have a suggestion on how to keep the tension on the yarn in your left hand taught enough? I seem to be stopping quite often to pull it tighter with my right hand.

I found a knot in the yarn as I was crocheting, is that normal? I'd expect a skein of yarn to be intact...

Do you use the pencil grips on the hook or just the hook? My G-Mom-D was always making granny squares and she just used the hook, but... do the pencil grips help you loosen your grip on the hook? I'm fatiguing my wrists and hands by holding the hook way to tight (I already know that's happening).

Any advice for a beginner? I'd love to hear any tidbits you'd like to share!

My tip: It's the beginning of a brand new year, if there's something you've wanted to try-go for it!

Morning Lynn! I usually crochet when the cold weather sets in. I never re-roll the yarn but I can never find the center either! For keeping tension - everyone has their own way of doing it. I usually wrap the yarn around my finger and loosen it as I go, but I think it just takes practice. I never used the pencil grip. Your square looks neat and even. Your doing great! I'll be expecting a winter sweater for Earl! :o)

Way to go, Lynn!! I'm impressed with your work & admire your gumption to learn a new craft this year. I used to crochet but haven't done it in years. I would love to get back to it & you may have provided just the inspiration. A FL friend gave me one of those dishcloths & I LOVE IT!! It is the best one I own. Don't tell her, but YOURS is MUCH prettier with the 3 colors. How fun!

Thanks for a year of laughs & great recipes...I've been peeking over your shoulder frequently.

forgot to say, "yes" it is normal to find a knot in the middle of a skein. Just keep steppin' I was taught to re-roll the skein into a ball, so that is how I always did it...I think it is to prevent tangles. And "yes" finding that end in the middle is always a challenge! LOL

As a lefty I have never learned to crochet, I can knit but just have never figured out the art of the one hook thing. I can chain all day long but cannot make it look right when I try to go further. So I add my "WOW" I'm sincerely impressed that your work is neat and even for a beginner. Relax and enjoy, it is supposed to be a relaxing craft, not one that makes your hands cramp. Good luck finding the center of any skein of yarn. Usually a foot or two will come out easily, then you get a yarn barf and that takes patience to straighten out. I have a ball winder (Amazon) my roommates hands are my swift (or the back of a chair) but for the skeins you are using I have a box that I just let it bounce around in while I wind. I love all the videos on the tube, most every problem one can run into the answer is on a video there. I wish I knew more about the tension, but I really believe that the more you crochet, you will find your pace and before you know it you'll be making sweaters and hats for Earl!!!

Lynn~ Bravo on crocheting your dish cloth, that is not in my skill set or at the least the patience required isn't! I'm chuckling at your first question about finding the end of the yarn, I struggled with that with some twine the other day :) Wishing you a Happy New Year and Happy Crocheting!

I can do a little, but it has been a very long time. I love your colors! When I did crochet, I rolled mine into a ball. I have a friend who found a "yarn bowl" at a craft show. It is literally a piece of pottery that you put your ball of yarn in and place it on the floor at your side. A clean, empty coffee would work just as well, and you could even do some modpodge decorating. I have no other advice because I basically can only do a basic stitch. Have fun and keep showing those pictures!

Congratulations on learning to crochet - it is one of my ways to relax, I usually can be found crocheting at night while watching TV with the hubby! Tension is something that will come with time and practice. It is definitely not always easy to find that center string of yarn. You should not be finding knots in your skeins of yarn, but I do occasionally too. I wish You Tube had been around when I first learned to crochet, it is a wonderful tool and there are a lot of great videos out there. You were smart to start with a dishcloth, those are fairly easy to do and are a good way to begin. Best of luck as you learn this new craft - if you like you can visit my blog at: www.sunflowerzcrochet.blogspot.com to find some links to patterns.

Your first project looks great. I was an avid crocheter 25-30 years ago, then put the hook down and never went back!! Since blogging, I see so many wonderful projects I started back up again. I always had a problem pulling the wool from the center. It starts out OK and then.....a huge snarly clump of yarn! I have also found knots in the skeins, many times. Never used the pencil cushion thingy but I am going to get one. I also find myself having to pull the yarn to get the right tension. I used to crochet very tight. I made my mother a scarf one time, and she said it was bullet proof! lol xo

I love crocheting, Lynn! I love crocheted dishcloths, too, and that is what I only use. I kinda loosen the grip in my left hand as I go along, but I wrap the yarn around my pinkie and can lift as I go. Re-rolling is the best way to do it, but don't pull the yarn too tightly. I don't always do that, but will even use the yarn on the outside of the skein and just go for it. It's frustrating when it knots up from the inside. Good luck with it. It's a nice hobby. There are free patterns hanging from hooks in the yarn aisle at Wal Mart and Hobby Lobby and JoAnnn's, too.

Hi Lynn! Finally, something in this great talented blogland that I know a little bit about!!!! Well, if you had learned to crochet from my Aunt Julia (who was like a grandma to me) as I did when I was little you would NEVER crochet without making a ball first! You can see the problems with the yarn, including weak pieces and knots, and avoid the big tangled mess you can get if you crochet right off the skein. The easiest way to roll is to carefully remove the wrapper, and you will find that the yarn is actually just looped, like the circle we would use for cat's cradle, do you know what I mean? Then find a willing partner or the back of a chair to hold it up like the poor men on old movies, fold up the wrapping paper and begin winding the yarn around it. When you run out of that ball when you are crocheting you will find the paper, in case you need more (although you may not find the same dye lot!) Good luck! Watch tv or talk while you are crocheting and you won't think about the tension of the yarn! Can't wait to see more! Linda

Great job! From the photo, it looks like you're a natural as the stitches appear to be pretty even.

I do not re-roll my yarn. I'm too impatient to start the project to bother messing with the yarn. On the cotton yarn that you used, you can find the center by sticking your fingers in the middle and pulling out a couple of strands. Sometimes, you'll have to pull a 'chunk' of yarn out to get to the center but don't worry, you'll use that 'chunk' up quick.

The tension in both hands will come with practice. You'll find that the more you crochet, the more relaxed both hands will become. At least that's what happened with me. I also hold my yarn different than what is taught. That way was not comfortable to me and I found myself holding the project with my thumb and forefinger and using my middle finger to adjust tension and to pull more yarn. I know, weird, but that's what is comfortable to me.

I also use plain aluminum hooks and most of the time I do use the pencil grip. That allows me to push the yarn onto the thicker part of the hook to help keep me from stitching too tight.

I hope to see some more projects from you and oh, you'll love washing or rinsing your dishes with your cotton dishcloth. I know I do!

On your left hand (if you are right-handed), I was taught to keep the yarn over and under the fingers. The pointing finger (next to thumb) has yarn over the top, then under the next, then over the next, etc. Then the pointing finger can adjust tension by raising and lowering the finger. It always has worked for me, even as a child. I tried dishclothes and I made an awful one! I'd love to know the dimensions of yours.

Funny because I am left handed like a previous comment and I learned to knit. I tried to learn to crochet but it was a little too loosey goosey for me. I like the stricter rules of knitting and it was way easier for me to see the stitches. I always take from the outside of the skein to make it easier and have never re-rolled because I am too eager to start a project and usually put my projects away too many times to leave my yarn around something else. Good luck with your projects!!

You did a great job! My mother taught me how to crochet years ago. It's been years but I started again about three years ago. I'm right-handed so I keep the thread loved over and behind my index finger and in front of the middle finger to help with the tension. With the cotton yarns, I always find the loose strand on the outside and just let the ball fall loose on the floor. We don't have cats :) I've always been able to crochet much better than knit. I could never figure out how to hold the knitting needles :)

I taught myself how to crochet a few years ago. At first my hand would actually cramp as I crocheted. As you keep doing it your hand will release the death grip. I agree it's sometimes tough to find the end of the yarn in the center of the skein. Good luck with your projects. I would love for you to come and link up to my Winter Blues Wednesday party going on right now. Hope to see you there.

Oh the granny square. Hours of idly crocheting little squares to then sew into a bigger square. I have no idea what I did with all of them but I have nothing to show for my efforts. Sorry I can't help with any of your questions. I do know that these wash clothes sell well at the Christmas bazaars.

I love it! I want to learn how to crochet too. Bet you'll be whipping an full sized afghan before you know it. Excellent work - and perfectly square - that's the best part! (Well maybe not the best part, but it is super awesome.)

I haven't crocheted in years! I used to love it, but I wasn't very good. I could make a granny square so I just kept making one bigger and bigger until it turned into an afghan. I love what you said about learning something you've always wanted to learn this year. That is part and parcel of my whole theme or outlook for the year.

Lynn, I have absolutely no advice. My mother was a crocheting machine. I crocheted one small doily in my life, with small thread, and promised to never try again. I admire anyone who can crochet. I do have a friend who has agreed to teach me to knit this year. So I guess that's my thingie. Good luck, I know you will master this art just as you do the art of cooking.Have a blessed New Year, Ginger

You really have done great! These are so neat to use, too! I'll have to read your comments for the answers. I taught myself to knit and crochet so I've never really learned the finer points! Sweet hugs!

Wow...a brand new craft for you;I crocheted years and years ago, making several granny square afghans. However, it's been over 30 years since I made the last one. I don't know enuf about crocheting to give you pointers other than what I learned from my mama.She didn't roll her yarn ...however, I think that would be best.She always wrapped the yarn over her pointing finger and her little finger, adjusting the tension that way. When I crocheted, if I was tight and stressed, my yarn would be waaay too tight...if I was laid back and calm, my stitches would become loose as a goose. I learned not to crochet if something was bothering me....and, SOMEtimes, not too often, crocheting would help me beat stress.Good luck...you are off to an amazing start..Knots seemed to appear in every ball of yarn I used. Drove me nuts but another reason it's good to roll your yarn to start with.

The answers to your questions come with experience so just hang in there. Sometimes it is a pain to find the yarn in the center so rolling is always an option. I tend to crochet rather tightly so have to be careful to ease up. Best wishes for your crochet journey and Happy New Year.

About Me

My boys are grown and on their own and while the day job puts food on the table, it doesn't feed the soul. So this Philly Girl started Pig In Mud. Please join me as I welcome each season and holiday through brief posts focusing on home cooking, baking and crafts. I hope you'll find this a happy place that provides inspiration:@) Lynn